Danny rode into Dodge City, carefully eyeing the shops and businesses that lined Front Street. He quickly spotted the bright blue sign that announced the Long Branch saloon. His sister, Darlene had a job there, and had described Kitty Russell as pretty and shapely, and having gorgeous red hair. She shouldn't be hard to spot. He tied his horse to a post, smoothed back his hair and brushed the trail dust from his clothes. It was show time. Chin up, and charming smile plastered on his face, he strode through the batwing doors with a bounce in his step. Kitty looked up from the bar, and took note of the stranger who entered so energetically. He was a handsome man with raven-black hair combed back from a sculpted face. His brown eyes were set off by long lashes, and his body was trim but sturdy. He wasn't large-framed enough to be intimidating, but wasn't so small he'd be easily messed with. He spotted the beautiful red-head watching him, and made walked over. "Hello, you must be Kitty Russell." He tipped his hat.
"I am. Welcome to the Long Branch. You are?"
Danny gave a slight but courtly bow. Danny, Danny O'Brian." Kitty smiled. "O'Brian? I have a Darlene O'Brian working for me." She pointed across the room at a curly haired woman bending over a table, "Are you related?" Danny glanced across the room at his sister. She was aware of his presence but didn't look up." Danny slowly shook his head. "O'Brian is a fine Irish name, but a common one. I'm not related to that woman, but I'd like to have a chat with her sometime. Who knows, we might have some ancestor in common." He gave a heavy sigh. "But in truth, I'm here on a serious matter. It's about my wife Lola. I've come to you Miss Russell because Lola spoke of you often. You would have known her as Lola Bennet. She's here isn't she? Please, I'm desperate to see her."
Kitty looked at him warily. "If Lola left you and came here, she must have had a reason."
Danny nodded sadly. "We had a terrible row, Miss Russell. We've had spats during our years of marriage, like most couples, but nothing like this. It was my fault. I said some things I shouldn't have about the way she was managing the household money. I'm afraid I raised my voice. If you know Lola, you know she doesn't put up with that kind of behavior, and she walked out. When she didn't come back right a way, I realized that she wanted to teach me a lesson, and I figured she came here to visit the friend she always spoke of with such fondness. I love her Miss Russell, I'll do anything to get her back." His eyes grew moist, he looked down at his feet. "I miss her so much, and believe me, I've learned my lesson. I'll never raise my voice to my dear wife again."
Kitty was guarded and protective of Lola, but was warming to the man. The key would be his reaction to the news that his wife was now a cripple. She put a hand on his arm. "I have bad news for you. Lola was hurt, stabbed in the back. She lived but, I'm sorry to say, she lost the use of her legs. Lola can't walk." Danny smacked the bar with his hand. "It's my fault. If we hadn't argued, she wouldn't have left, and this would not have happened. Take me to her, Miss Russell, please. I have to make it up to her. I'll take her home and care for her." Kitty was impressed by Danny's immediate desire to help his crippled wife. She glanced around the Long Branch. The crowd was growing and she was down a bartender. "Mr. O'Brian, I can't leave my saloon right now. Tell you what, Lola has a room in a nearby boarding house, I'll have Darlene take you there." Kitty waved the young saloon girl over to the bar. "Darlene, this is Danny O'Brian. He's my friend Lola's husband. Please take him to Ma Smalley's boarding house, Lola is on the first floor, second door on the left. Darlene tried to hide her amazement at her assignment, and turned to Danny. "Nice to meet you Mr. O'Brian, come right this way."
Marshal's Office
Sitting behind his desk, Matt worked his way through the pile of telegrams that were just delivered to his office. He'd wired a dozen lawmen, asking if they knew of unsolved robberies of banks, jewelry stores or stage-coaches. Anything that might explain how Lola came to have the contents of the duffle bag. The response from every lawman was the same – no major robberies remained unsolved. Matt rubbed the back of his neck. He'd been up since 5 AM and felt like he'd accomplished nothing. Another cup of coffee might not help, but it sure as heck wouldn't hurt. He tiredly pushed himself up from his desk to start up the stove. Chester's old posters and flyers sat in a neat pile nearby. Matt grabbed one from the top, to crumble and toss in the stove. He glanced down. The flyer was 4 years old. The pictures were faded, but the words caught his eye:
The O'Brians and their Magic Knives!
Daddy O'Brian and Dashing Danny juggle daggers, blades, hatchets, axes and swords before your eyes. Dear Little Darlene amazes – slicing grapes from 10 feet and pinning flies to the wall. Lovely Lo..
The rest of the words were too faded to read. Matt stared at the picture. Little Darlene was a younger version of the Darlene who worked for Kitty. The others in the picture, two men and a woman, were faded beyond recognition. He grabbed the flyer and hurried to the Long Branch.
Down the street Darlene lead her brother around the corner to Ma's boarding house. "Are you crazy? I've been careful to stay hidden from Lola. She doesn't know I'm here. Now she'll see both of us." Danny shrugged. "Game's up. She's a helpless cripple. I'm getting back what's mine, that means the bag and my wife. Even if she can't walk she's still beautiful, and can be useful in the act. I'll figure it out."
Matt flew into the Long Branch and made a bee line for Kitty, "Where's Darlene O'Brian?" Kitty frowned. "What's wrong – she's – it's a long story Matt. Turns out Lola is married. Her husband Danny, came looking for her. Darlene's taking him to the boarding house, so he can speak to Lola."
"Kitty, Darlene may be the one who put that knife in Lola's back" He slammed the flyer down on the bar and raced out of the saloon. Kitty took one look at the faded advertisement and ran after Matt, calling over her shoulder. "Sorry Sam, I know we're short handed. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Darlene led her brother to Lola's room and knocked on the door. There was no answer. No one was stirring inside. Darlene looked at her brother. "Try the door, Sis." She turned the knob. The door creaked open. They stepped inside into silence.
"Hold it." Matt had his gun out. He ran past Darlene and Danny to the center of the room. The O'Brians stopped in their tracks, Kitty hurried in behind Matt. Four shocked people glanced around the large and airy room. Finally Kitty muttered. "She's – she's gone."
Kitty opened the closet. Matt checked under the bed. There was no sign that Lola had ever been there. Matt looked at Darlene and Danny. "The O'Brians and their Magic Knives. Isn't that right?"
Danny smiled charmingly. "Well, having an exceptionally fine carnival act is not a crime, is it?"
"Nope, but putting a knife in a woman's back is. I have some questions about that, and about a particular duffle bag. Let's go my office."
Danny shrugged and took his sister's hand, "Might as well go Darlene." He smiled at Kitty, "Sorry about the falsehood Miss Russell. Darlene is my sister, but she wanted to be on her own and I respected that."
With a brief nod at Kitty, Matt escorted the O'Brians to his office, knowing he had no substantial evidence against them. Kitty remained in the room turning around and around in amazement. "Lola, how did you manage to leave, and where the heck are you?"
TBC
